Print Design

Since its creation over 25 years ago by Thomas and Knoll, Photoshop has now firmly established itself as the tool of choice for designers worldwide. Adobe bought the distribution license back in September 1988 and since then, a mind-boggling amount of new versions and tools have been added on, to make it one of the most sophisticated design software available on the market.

The fact is that anybody using complex tools, machines or software will develop their own methods of working, based on the training they had as well as their experience. However, it is important to sometimes sit back and review the habits we have developed to work out if they are the most effective and logical ones to produce the highest quality work. We have compiled a list of ideas that will help you review your methods and hopefully help improve them.

Save time and effort by creating folders and layers

One of Photoshop’s main features is the ability to create layers to allow for easy modification of your project. The ideal way to use them is to ensure that enough layers are created from the start. This means that you won’t have to start the work all over again when you realize that you don’t have enough to complete the project. The other good habit that will save you time is to make sure that your layers are organized into folders. A well-structured project has many benefits. Not only you will be quicker, but it will also create a much smoother process if you work with another team or design agency and need to share your work.

Allow your work to go further: increase your resolution

By default, Photoshop’s resolution is set at 72dpi (dots per inch). This is usually fine for most professional website design projects, but your work will be limited to the small screen formats and might pixelate if printed. Try and get into the good habit of saving your work at a higher resolution, it’ll save a lot of time and efforts in the long run.

Expand your horizon with shortcuts

Being able to produce great work in record time is one of the top employers’ requests when hiring designers. It is therefore hugely important to know your shortcuts, as they can speed up and improve your workflow enormously. There are over 40 essential Photoshop shortcuts you can learn here, but don’t forget that you can also create your own ones. This is the equivalent of shorthand for designers and it will separate the good ones from greats!

The digital age is upon us. Everywhere you look there are television screens, super-size flat screen displays and dynamic billboard presentations. Despite this world of digital advertising, good old printed materials are still holding ground.

Nothing beats the look and feel of a well-designed, expertly printed flyer or leaflet. The same goes for corporate literature, product packaging and event materials. We offer a print management service that caters for brands and businesses with their finger on the pulse of print; it’s alive and kicking!

Learn to use grids:

They help you to achieve the perfect balance, ensuring the overall layout looks pleasing to the eye. Grids help designers when it comes to things like alignment and spacing too.

Get your head around typography:

It’s the practice involved with organising and arranging copy, as well as choosing an appropriate typeface. Different type styles have different personalities, the majority of the time it makes sense to use a font that’s clear and easy to read. Take some time to research your market place and use a font family. Font choice can make or break your design, and ultimately the overall print campaign.

Admire the finish:

Have you considered print finishing options? You don’t get a choice of finishes with digital design, your website is served up to visitors on whatever device they happen to be using. With printed materials you have the luxury of materials and textures to choose from. It’s not just the design itself that’s important, it’s the little things like the finish that make print design more tactile and interesting.

If you’re seeking a print management company with a track record of delivering results, we can help you. Why not talk to us now about the digital printing services that we offer?

A piece of print will always carry a sense of value and prestige high quality and a well-designed brochure can have a significant impact. Whether you wish to boost enquiries, increase brand awareness or display important technical information about your services or products, the design will play a crucial role in achieve those objectives.

We’ve compiled this list of important points to help with the brochure design process:

Outline the brochure design objectives:

Before jumping into the brochure design for your clients, or for your own brand, outline clear design objectives. As with any design and communications piece, it’s crucial to understand what the brochure is designed for so you can evaluate its effectiveness when it’s been delivered.

Draw sketches:

In the initial phase of brochure design, it is always a good idea to start with rough sketches. At that stage, layouts and the overall outlook are more important than the finer details. Try to come up with a couple of initial concepts and test a few of them to help decide on the final format for your design.

Consider the typography:

Using too many different fonts in one brochure can have a negative effect on the overall design. Adhere to the brand guidelines and restrict your font preferences to a select few. Try to keep the type style and layout consistent with other marketing materials. If there’s an existing type style, don’t create something new unnecessarily.

Impeccable content:

Well-written and targeted content is the key to success for any brochure design. Content should be double-checked with regards to spelling and grammar, as well as kept simple. Don’t overload the brochure with marketing jargons. Finally, always think about adding value by understanding who the brochure’s audience is and try to solve their problems.

Use the right imagery:

Make sure the important visual elements stand out and contribute towards making a good first impression. A selection of strong images can make all the difference, so it is worth spending some extra time to come up with the right visuals. Many brochures fall down by using cheesy stock photography, so always make use of good photography where the budget allows.